Ice-creeper



(No Model.)-

em 8 m 4 Z L p A Q d .w .n w V v? a P I c ,0 hnm 5 n0 1 E Z 0 N Attorney N. PEYERS, PhuZa-Lilnogmphur Washlnglvr. Lat;

UNITED STATES ATENT Price.

IRA I. BUSH, OF JANESVILLE, \VISOONSIN.

lCE-CREEPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,156, dated April 24, 1885?,

(No model.)

I 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA I. BUSH, of Janesville, in the county of Rock and State of Wiscousin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Creepers; and I do here-' by declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable other skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to ice-creepers or attachments for boots and shoes, designed to prevent the slipping ot' the wearer when walking upon icy pavements, the object being to provide a device of this character which may be readily applied to a boot or shoe and adapted to be adjusted to be thrown into and out of operating position.

The invention consists in the combination, with a suitable supporting frame adapted to be secured to the heel of a shoe, of a slide-rod adapted to be held either in position for contact with the pavement or in an elevated position above the latter.

The invention further consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective View of my improvement, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are longitudinal views in section.

A represents the frame of the device, consisting of the parallel bars a a, each provided with an eye or perforated ear, to. These bars a a are connected at top and bottom by curved guards B B, which form bearings for the sliderod 0.

D represents a plate formed integral with the lower ends of the bars a a, and projecting inwardly at a right angle thereto, and provided with upwardly-inclined prongs d d, a screwhole, d, and a semicircular recess, (P, to receive the end of the rod 0.

E represents a plate formed integral with the upper ends of the bars a a, and provided with inwardly-projecting lugs e e, and an upper cross-bar, c, the latter forming a shoulder to receive an arm, 0, of the slide-rod C. This arm 0 is formed at a right angle to the rod 0, to serve as a looking-bar for the rod. The lower end of the latter is sharpened to adapt it to engage the ice on the pavement.

The device, as thus constructed, is adapted to be secured to the heel of a boot or shoe by screws passing through the holes a and d, and by inserting the prongs d (1 into the under side of the heel.

The rod 0, when desired for use, is lowered, as shown in Fig. 1, until its arm (1' rests on shoulders 00 w of the plate E, above the upper curved guard, B. The arm is then turned to one side until it rests under one of the lugs e, which operates as a shoulder to hold the rod, the latter being also held by its contact with the heel of the boot or shoe. The point or lower end of the rod 0 is thus projected below the heel to enter the ice and prevent slipping.

When it is not desired to use the device the arm 0 of the rod 0 is turned to a position below the space between the lugs c c, and the rod is raised until the arm is above said lugs e 0, when it will be turned to rest upon one of the latter, and thus hold the rod above the bottom of the heel, so that said rod will not interfere with walking or catch on carpets, &c., when the wearer is within doors.

The device as thus described is simple and durable in construction, may be manufactured at a small cost, and-readily applied to a boot or shoe.

In addition to its function as a support for the sliding rod, the frame A will operate as a stiffener or support for the counter of the heel.

It will be apparent that many changes and modifications in the details of construction of my improvement may be resorted to without departingfrom the spiritofmyinvention. For instance, the supporting-frame may be provided with clamping jaws or arms adapted to surround the heel to assist-in securing the creeper in place; and many other changes may be made in the securing devices and other parts of the improvement.

I do not therefore limit myself to the precise construction herein shown and described, but reserve to myself the right to make all such modifications as may properly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an ice-creeper, the combination,'with a supporting-frame adapted to be secured to the heel of a boot, of a slide-rod mounted in suitable bearings in said frame, said slide-rod being pointed'at its lower end and provided with an arm at its upper end, the parts being constructed to allow the rod to be adjusted vertically and partially rotated to engage its arm with lugs or shoulders of the frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In an ice-creeper, the combination, with a frame provided with guides for a slide-rod and with an inwardly-projecting pron ged plate, and at its upper end with lugs and shoulders, of a slide-rod sharpened or pointed at its lower end and provided at its upper end with an arm adapted to lock said rod in raised or lowered position, substantially as set forth.

3. In an ice-creeper, the combination, with the frame having the screw-holes for its attachment to the heel of a boot or shoe, the upper cross-bar and inwardly-projecting lugs, and the curved guides and inwardly-turned plate provided with prongs and screw-holes, of a slide-rod having a sharp point at its lower end and an arm atits upper end,snbstantially as set forth.

'In testimony whereofl havesigned this specifloat-ion in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRA I. BUSH.

WVitnesses:

G. L. VALENTINE, O. E. BowLEs. 

